The NY Yankees may look at trade deals at the MLB trading deadline this season, as names like lay Buchholz, Cole Hamels, Jeff Samardzija, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and Scott Kazmir could be available and this comes as the Yanks are dealing with some pitching struggles with CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka getting hit lately and that could spark GM Brian Cashman to make moves.
The Yankees are likely going to make a move at the trading deadline and a starting pitcher appears to be their biggest need right now heading into July. According to Hardball Talk, CC Sabathia has been struggling lately, but Brian Cashman said that there are no plans now to move him out of the rotation. The Yankees opted to move Adam Warren, who was pitching well, into the bullpen to accommodate the return of Ivan Nova over moving Sabathia.
According to a report from CBS New York, the Yankees are looking at Jeff Samardzija and Clay Buchholz as potential options on the market, as the Red Sox and White Sox could be sellers at the deadline. The Yankees may be looking at those players as they cost a bit of money and that could help lower the price when it comes to prospects. That would likely be the best bet for the Hamels deal since he has four years on his contract, but the Phillies reportedly want a valuable package for him.
The Red Sox pitching has been a mess and they could look at selling at the deadline with Buchholz, who has been the most consistent pitcher for the team. CBS reported that the team has some interest in Cueto and Leake, while Samardzija could be an option because he is struggling. If Samardzija's struggles continue, the White Sox might sell low on him and that could be an option for the Yankees, as he has a plus 4.00 ERA and has give up over a hit an inning.
The Yankees have opted to keep the 34 year old Sabathia in the rotation for now and it comes after he lost against the Angels in his last start. Cashman said the team would give him time to work things out and it comes as he has put up a 5.59 ERA this season with a 3-8 record. The team has moved Adam Warren to the bullpen and they have kept Nathan Eovaldi in the rotation as well.
This report comes after a previous report from Jon Morosi at Fox Sports that had the Yankees scouting Mike Leake and Johnny Cueto with the Reds. Cincinnati is expected to trade both pitchers this year at the deadline, as the Reds are struggling and both players are expected to be free agents. Morosi writes that Leake is more likely, as he will cost less than Cueto when it comes to prospects and the Yankees do not want to give up the meat of their farm system.
The Yankees are in good position to make a deal though, as they have really changed the direction of their minor league system the past few years. The team has some solid prospects to deal and while they may not have a package to trade for Hamels or Cueto, they could get someone like Leake, Buchholz or Kazmir and not give up too much.
Check here for more on the Yankees trade targets for the deadline.